The Not Perfect Networking Podcast

Networking gets a bad rap, but what if the problem isn't networking itself? What if it is the way we've been thinking about it all along?

In this episode of the Not Perfect Networking Podcast, Zoe sits down with Caroline Dell to reframe networking as what it really is: relationship building. Caroline is the founder of Goodword, a relationship operating system for the AI era, and former employee #5 at Chief, where she hel...

What if the reason your business feels stuck… isn’t your expertise—but your strategy?

In this episode of the Not Perfect Networking Podcast, Zoe sits down with business strategist and consultant coach Leah Neaderthal to unpack what it really takes to grow a sustainable, profitable consulting business—especially when referrals stop being enough.

Leah works with women consultants who have outgrown the early-stage “word-of-mouth...

Money conversations are something most of us avoid—but what if learning to talk about money could completely change your relationships, confidence, and future?

In this episode of the Not Perfect Networking Podcast, Zoe sits down with Sheila Schroeder to break down why money feels so hard to talk about, and how we can start having more open, honest, and empowering conversations in our everyday lives.

Sheila is a financial expe...

Angel investing often feels like a world reserved for billionaires and insiders—but what if that wasn’t true?

In this episode of the Not Perfect Networking Podcast, Zoe sits down with early-stage investor Marcia Dawood to break down what angel investing really is, how everyday people can get involved, and why aligning your money with your values can create real change.

Marcia is a venture partner at Mindshift Capital, Chair Emeritus ...

What's the most important financial decision you'll ever make? According to leading matrimonial attorney Jackie Combs, it's who you marry.

In this episode of Not Perfect Networking, Zoe sits down with Jackie Combs, a matrimonial and family law attorney at Blank Rome and the voice behind Love Richer—a platform that's changing how younger generations think about money, relationships, and protecting their futures. K...

Some people create brands. Some people create communities. Shena Patel does both.

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Shena Patel, a creative executive, strategist, and writer who has spent over 20 years shaping voices, narratives, and campaigns for some of the world’s most iconic brands—think the little blue boxes and stripe pink bags. Shena now helps founders and CEOs build brands that don’t just succeed—they make the world ...

Some people build brands. Very few build movements. Today’s guest is one of the rare ones who can do both—and she’s here to break down exactly how she does it.

In today's episode, I’m sitting down with someone who has shaped culture through every brand she’s touched. Gabby Etrog Cohen is one of those rare leaders who understands that brand isn’t a logo or a marketing plan—it’s human connection. It’s how people feel. It’s how...

In today’s episode, I’m digging into one of the topics I care about most: personal brand positioning in a world where visibility is no longer granted, it’s built.

We’re talking about what it really takes to become known for your work (hint: it’s not perfection), why your brand is a living narrative rather than a one-time declaration, and how consistency outperforms talent every single time. I’m also sharing a behind-the-scenes look ...

In this episode of Not Perfect Networking, Zoe sits down with Wendy Heilbut, founder of Heilbut LLP, attorney, angel investor, and connector in New York’s creative business community.

Wendy’s career has spanned law, recruiting, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership—giving her a unique perspective on what networking really means. Instead of chasing leads or following sales formulas, Wendy believes the best connections happen thr...

Big announcement: I’m launching the Not Perfect Podcast Network — a curated network built for founders, thought leaders, and professionals who are ready to start their own podcasts without the stress or guesswork.

Yep, on my birthday, I’m officially turning Not Perfect Networking into something even bigger.

Over the past year, I’ve interviewed incredible CEOs, creatives, and entrepreneurs who’ve shared how real, unpolished networking...

What if wealth wasn’t just about money—but about community, confidence, and access?

In this episode, Zoe sits down with Syama Bunten, co-founder of Wealth Catalyst and host of the top-100 podcast Getting Rich Together, to explore how women can build meaningful wealth and powerful networks. Syama shares her journey from fashion executive to entrepreneur, what inspired her to create the Wealth Catalyst Summit, and why she believes con...

In this Not Perfect Networking episode, communications strategist and “power connector” Jeanne Meyer (Authentic Intelligence; former comms leader at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Current TV, EMI Music, and ToysRUs.com) shares a masterclass on networking and executive communication. We dig into listening before speaking, delivering “be brief, be brilliant, be gone” messages, using the Rule of 3, navigating crisis and disclosure, ...

Hustle isn’t the problem, how we define productivity is. Creativity strategist Dr. Natalie Nixon shares a human OS for work: Move, Think, Rest—and how a cultivation mindset transforms networking.

Dr. Natalie Nixon is “the creativity whisperer to the C-Suite,” Top 50 global keynote speaker, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and author of the award-winning The Creativity Leap. Through her firm Figure 8 Thinking, she helps leaders reframe ...

What if your next big idea wasn’t born in a boardroom… but on the back of a cocktail napkin?

Dana Hork is a transformational brand leader, entrepreneur, storyteller, and Founder & CEO of Beers With Friends, an agile creative agency helping challenger brands solve high-stakes problems in just five days. She partners with founders, CMOs, and marketing leaders to unlock fast, high-impact brand solutions through the agency’s signatu...

In this episode I sit down with Danielle Corone, law firm executive, former federal prosecutor, adjunct professor at Seton Hall, and lifelong connector. Danielle brings a fresh, nontraditional take on networking—one rooted in generosity, intuition, and being deeply intentional about how and with whom you spend your time.

Danielle shares how her networking superpower isn’t about volume—it’s about meaning. You’ll hear how she "snuck i...

What does it mean to take inventory of your life—and your network—at midlife? In this episode, I sit down with Julie Flakstad, founder and host of The Midlife Truth Project, a limited series podcast that’s earned an Ambie nomination and featured guests like Sarah Blakely and Chip Conley.

Julie shares how networking helped her bring the podcast (and her new documentary, book, and more) to life—starting with a bold list of dream guest...

What if community was the missing piece to fixing modern work culture? Jaclyn Pascocello, founder of FABRIK, believes the cure for workplace loneliness starts with giving people a place to actually belong—and she’s proving it, one intentional gathering at a time.

In this episode Zoe sits down with Jaclyn Pascocello, founder of FABRIK, a tech-enabled network of real-life gathering spaces designed to solve one of today’s most pres...

What if your next career move didn’t require starting over—but evolving forward? In this episode, Zoe sits down with powerhouse networker and community builder April Uchitel—CEO and Founder of The Board, co-founder of Dish Studios, and former CEO of Violet Grey and ONDA Beauty—to explore how the future of work is shifting toward a more agile, connected, and collaborative model.April shares her journey from a career in fashion to la...

Ever wonder who’s behind the speeches, op-eds, and books of the world’s most powerful leaders? Meet Pauleanna Reid, celebrity ghostwriter and founder of WritersBlok, who’s built an empire on storytelling, strategic relationships, and showing up with confidence.

In this conversation, Pauleanna shares how she went from failing high school English to becoming the go-to storytelling partner for C-suite executives, cultural icons, and gl...